Government surveillance

Definition

Government surveillance refers to the monitoring and collection of information by the government on individuals or groups, often for the purpose of maintaining national security. It involves the use of various techniques, such as wiretapping, data mining, and video monitoring.

Related terms

Fourth Amendment: The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant based on probable cause before conducting surveillance or searching someone's property.

USA PATRIOT Act: The USA PATRIOT Act is a law passed after 9/11 that expanded the government's authority to conduct surveillance in order to prevent terrorism.

Edward Snowden: Edward Snowden was a former NSA contractor who leaked classified documents revealing extensive government surveillance programs, sparking a global debate on privacy rights and government intrusion.